Cass County

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke has worked with the Cass County Office of Sheriff since 1987. During his career, he served as a Road Patrol Deputy, Road Patrol Sergeant and Central Dispatch Coordinator. He also completed temporary assignments as Detective and Correctional Officer. Before taking office as County Sheriff on January 1, 2017, Sheriff Behnke served as the Undersheriff from 2003 through 2016.

Sheriff Behnke graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1982. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University. He also graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Police Executive Development Program and the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University’s School of Criminal Justice. During his career, Sheriff Behnke served as a training officer for several different disciplines as well as acting as an Adjunct Instructor at Southwestern Michigan College.

Sheriff Behnke is a life-long long resident of Cass County and currently lives with Lorri, his wife of 27 years, in Silver Creek Township near Dowagiac.